April 2006

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For upcoming media policy events, see http://www.benton.org

NEWS AT THE FCC
New FCC Data on High-Speed Internet Access
Spitzer Accuses Feds of Secretly Undermining his 'Payola' Case
Bishops Push for Leased Access Review
New FCC Data on Local Telephone Competition

INTERNET
Judiciary Committee To Seek A Piece Of House Telecom Bill
A Tiered Internet ... The New Digital Divide
Net Gain on Campaign Finance Rules
New Trends In Online Traffic
For Future Readers, Papers Should Look Online
On IM, Keeping Tabs and Keeping Up Appearances

KIDS & MEDIA
Sexy media a siren call to promiscuity?
Teaching kids to drive the Net
Web Ads Appear On Racy Sites Despite Checks

QUICKLY -- NAB Debate Tracker Up and Running;=20
Assets of Foundations Sprint Past Milestone, but=20
Lower Payout Is Foreseen; 3 Verizon Caribbean=20
Units Sold to Mexican Magnate; Blogging and=20
Education; Free 411 info on call if you'll listen=20
to ads; NTL seals $1.7 billion deal for Virgin=20
Mobile; Terminate Public Broadcasting; Violent=20
video games often not properly labeled; NAB Opposes Sideline Camera Ban

NEWS AT THE FCC

NEW FCC DATA ON HIGH-SPEED SERVICES FOR INTERNET ACCESS
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
On Monday the FCC released new data on high-speed=20
connections to the Internet in the United=20
States. Twice a year, facilities-based broadband=20
providers report the number of high-speed=20
connections in service pursuant to the FCC's=20
local telephone competition and broadband data=20
gathering program. Statistics reflect data as of=20
June 30, 2005. For reporting purposes, high-speed=20
lines are connections that deliver services at=20
speeds exceeding 200 kilobits per second (kbps)=20
in at least one direction, while advanced=20
services lines are connections that deliver=20
services at speeds exceeding 200 kbps in both=20
directions. The June 30, 2005 data provide more=20
information about the "speeds" of advanced=20
services lines and finer distinctions among=20
technologies than previously reported. They also=20
enable, for the first time in this data=20
collection, estimation of the extent to which=20
high-speed Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)=20
connections are available to households residing=20
in the areas served by incumbent local exchange=20
carriers (ILECs) and the extent to which=20
high-speed cable modem service is available to=20
households residing in the areas served by cable=20
TV systems. Highlights of the report include: 1)=20
there are 37.7 million advanced service lines in=20
the US, 61.8% of which were at least 2.5 mbps in=20
the faster direction; 2) of the 37.7 million=20
advanced services lines, 34.3 million served=20
primarily residential end users. Cable modem=20
service represented 64.9% of these lines while=20
33.9% were asymmetric DSL (ADSL) connections; 3)=20
As a nationwide average, the FCC estimates that=20
high-speed DSL connections were available to 76%=20
of the households to whom ILECs could provide=20
local telephone service as of June 30, 2005, and=20
that high-speed cable modem service was available=20
to 91% of the households to whom cable system=20
operators could provide cable TV service.; 4) 98%=20
of US zip codes have at least one high-speed=20
provider -- The most widely reported technologies=20
by this measure were satellite (with at least=20
some presence reported in 86% of Zip Codes), ADSL=20
(in 78% of Zip Codes), and cable modem (in 62% of=20
Zip Codes). ADSL and/or cable modem connections=20
were reported to be present in 85% of Zip Codes.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-264738A1.doc
* See the report at:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-264744A1.pdf
* Martin Touts Dereg Drivers of Broadband Gains
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6321372?display=3DBreaking+News

SPITZER ACCUSES FEDS OF SECRETLY UNDERMINING HIS 'PAYOLA' CASE
[SOURCE: Associated Press, AUTHOR: Devlin Barrett]
New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer accused=20
federal regulators Monday of going behind his=20
back to negotiate with radio companies caught in=20
a "payola" scandal, and saying the move undercuts=20
the case he's been building for years.=20
Negotiations between radio companies and the=20
Federal Communications Commission have included=20
possible payments of about $1 million per=20
company, said an official familiar with the=20
talks. The official spoke on condition of=20
anonymity because the talks are secret and have=20
not been finalized. Spitzer's lawyers, by=20
contrast, have been seeking a figure closer to=20
$20 million from each company, the official said.
http://www.silive.com/newsflash/metro/index.ssf?/base/news-16/1144081453...
410.xml&storylist=3Dsimetro
* Spitzer Criticizes Talks Between FCC, Stations
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-spitzer4apr04,1,41809...
story?coll=3Dla-headlines-pe-business
* Free Press Pushes Tough Payola Fines
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6321354?display=3DBreaking+News
* FCC Must Crack Down on Payola Broadcasters
http://www.freepress.net/press/release.php?id=3D125

BISHOPS PUSH FOR LEASED ACCESS REVIEW
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The United States Catholic Conference of Bishops,=20
the Center for Digital Democracy and the Benton=20
Foundation are taking the FCC to task for what=20
they say is the FCC's "neglect" of its oversight=20
role, which they argue has negative impacted=20
program diversity. In comments filed at the FCC,=20
they argue that current FCC leased-access rules=20
setting aside 10%-15% of cable channels for=20
unaffiliated entities--have instead "deterred=20
non-affiliated programmers from using leased=20
access, further entrenched cable operators' hold=20
on video programming, and have not resolved the=20
harms that the leased access provisions were=20
designed to address, such as cable operators'=20
lack of incentive to provide programming with=20
divergent interests." The religious leaders are=20
concerned about access to those channels for=20
religious programming. The comments came in=20
response to the FCC's annual state of video=20
competition report, which was released last=20
month. In the report, the FCC concluded that=20
consumers now have a choice, on average, of=20
broadcast, cable, and two satellite services for=20
their TV, as well as increased offers of bundled=20
services -- TV, Internet access, phone. It also=20
concluded that rather than necessarily lowering=20
cable prices, wired incumbents have responded by adding more services.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6321463?display=3DBreaking+News
* See press release:
http://www.democraticmedia.org/news/washingtonwatch/FCCleasedaccess.html

NEW FCC DATA ON LOCAL TELEPHONE COMPETITION
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
On Monday the FCC released new data on local=20
telephone service competition in the United=20
States. Highlights include: 1) "End-user=20
customers obtained local telephone service by=20
utilizing approximately 144.1 million ILEC=20
switched access lines, 34.1 million CLEC switched=20
access lines, and 191.3 million mobile telephony=20
service subscriptions at the end of June 2005;=20
and 2) At least one CLEC was serving customers in=20
83% of the nation's Zip Codes at the end of June=20
2005. About 98% of United States households=20
resided in those Zip Codes. Moreover, multiple=20
carriers reported providing local telephone=20
service in the major population centers of the country.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-264743A1.doc
* See the FCC report at:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-264742A1.pdf

INTERNET

JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TO SEEK A PIECE OF HOUSE TELECOM BILL
[SOURCE: Technology Daily, AUTHOR: David Hatch]
The House Judiciary Committee plans to request=20
sequential referral over portions of a=20
telecommunications bill released last week by=20
House Energy and Commerce Chairman Joe Barton=20
(R-TX). The Judiciary panel's involvement would=20
be significant because Judiciary Chairman James=20
Sensenbrenner (R-WI) is a vocal critic of the=20
regional Bell operating companies who is=20
concerned about the possibility of=20
anti-competitive conduct. The referral, if=20
approved by House leaders, would come after the=20
full Commerce panel approves the Barton-authored=20
measure, which is viewed as favorable to the Bell=20
companies. Meanwhile, the Judiciary Committee is=20
quietly drafting legislation based on a bill=20
introduced in 2004 by Chairman Sensenbrenner and=20
Judiciary ranking member John Conyers (D-MI). The=20
measure would clarify that antitrust laws apply=20
to the telecom sector regardless of court=20
decisions suggesting otherwise. Depending on the=20
outcome of the referral request, the Judiciary=20
panel's legislation may include restrictive=20
"network neutrality" provisions banning telecom=20
and cable companies from acting as Internet=20
gatekeepers and offering faster speed service to preferred Web sites.
http://www.njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-OWSR1144093846528.html

A TIERED INTERNET... THE NEW DIGITAL DIVIDE
[SOURCE: Diary of a Community Technology Advocate, AUTHOR: Angela Stuber]
[Commentary] If this "pay to play" is legislated,=20
our Internet service will be tiered like our=20
cable and we will have created a new Digital=20
Divide. I have enough work trying to bridge the=20
current Digital Divide=85 a tiered Internet will=20
keep even more folks from accessing portions of=20
the "Information Superhighway". Oh wait, there=92s=20
more=85 it will not only create inequal access from=20
the consumer side but also make new business=20
entry to the Internet more difficult. =91Cause we=20
know most new small businesses will not have the=20
funds to =93pay to play=94. E-commerce is providing=20
folks from all arenas an equal business=20
opportunity, including folks with disabilities.=20
Withdrawing that level playing fields just to=20
boost bottom line of the Internet providers seems=20
anti-economic development and downright Un-American.
http://angelastuber.blogspot.com/

NET GAIN ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE RULES
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: E. J. Dionne Jr]
[Commentary] The new FEC rule is not that=20
complicated, but it did involve some careful=20
balancing. The commission, under pressure from a=20
court decision, decided that paid advertising on=20
the Internet should be subject to the same=20
regulations as paid advertising on television,=20
radio or in newspapers. The restrictions on the=20
use of unregulated "soft money" that apply to the=20
old media would apply to the new media, too. At=20
the same time, bloggers won what they had long=20
sought: exemptions from regulations on what they=20
can say that are akin to those that apply to what=20
is now quaintly called the "old media." For=20
bloggers, it was a Let Freedom Ring moment. The=20
decision could be looked at as a classic=20
political compromise: Campaign reformers got=20
something they wanted (the Web would not be=20
allowed to become the loophole that ate all=20
campaign finance regulations), while bloggers got=20
something they wanted (freedom to inform, opine,=20
fulminate and enrage, i.e., to speak their=20
minds). But the decision was better than your=20
usual split-the-difference Washington=20
sausage-making because it acknowledged that two=20
serious principles are at stake and because it=20
sought to make sure that regulations would be=20
applied uniformly across media outlets. The two=20
principles are free speech and the ability of our=20
democratic political system to protect itself=20
from corruption. That's why Congress should=20
resist any bill that would overturn the FEC's=20
shrewd ruling and let money slosh around freely on the Internet.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/03/AR200604...
1611.html
(requires registration)

NEW TRENDS IN ONLINE TRAFFIC
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Leslie Walker]
While growth is slowing at most top Internet=20
sites, it is skyrocketing at sites focused on=20
social networking, blogging and local=20
information. The dramatic success of those=20
Internet categories is apparent from a recent=20
online-traffic analysis provided by market=20
research firm ComScore Media Metrix, which=20
examined visitor growth rates among the 50 top=20
Web sites over the past year. Top-ranked sites=20
growing the most, ComScore's data showed, were=20
Blogger.com, a personal publishing site;=20
MySpace.com, where young people do virtual=20
preening and share musical tastes; Wikipedia, an=20
open reference site jointly edited by millions of=20
people; and Citysearch, a network of local guides=20
focused on cities. The number of monthly visitors=20
to each site rose at rates ranging from 185=20
percent (Citysearch) to 528 percent (Blogger.com)=20
between February 2005 and February 2006. Their=20
growth far exceeded the 4 percent increase in=20
overall Internet visitors in the United States=20
during that period. The traffic analysis shows=20
the Internet is still a space where new brands=20
such as MySpace can suddenly break into the upper=20
ranks, where older brands such as Citysearch can=20
revive themselves after languishing for years,=20
and where established outfits such as Google=20
often wind up as beneficiaries because they buy=20
or copy services pioneered by upstarts.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/03/AR200604...
1692.html
(requires registration)

FOR FUTURE READERS, PAPERS SHOULD LOOK ONLINE
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Sara Kehaulani Goo]
The newspaper industry may be afflicted with=20
declining circulation, falling stock prices and=20
for-sale signs, but two reports issued yesterday=20
suggest newspapers can find new hope in their Web=20
sites. Newspapers continue to attract huge=20
increases in their online readership,=20
particularly among younger, affluent audiences=20
who are probably not picking up the printed=20
version on their doorstep, according to a report=20
issued by the Newspaper Association of America.=20
And preliminary results of a second study,=20
conducted by market research firm Scarborough=20
Research, found more evidence that younger people=20
are interested in news, just not the print=20
version. The study found, for example, that 37=20
percent of adults who visited The Washington=20
Post's Web site in the past 30 days were ages 18=20
to 34, while only 26 percent of the newspaper's=20
print readers fall into the same age bracket.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/03/AR200604...
1595.html
(requires registration)

ON IM, KEEPING TABS AND KEEPING UP APPEARANCES
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Yuki Noguchi]
Instant Messenger (IM) users have learned that=20
the technology's basic tools can serve as=20
real-time windows into the comings and goings of=20
others. The simple icons that show whether a=20
person is available for a chat -- a green check=20
mark, a do-not-enter sign, an away message --=20
make it possible to juggle relationships or=20
maintain social ties. Users who know their=20
friends' and families' online routines come to=20
understand that the availability icon stands for=20
something going on in that person's life. A=20
roommate who logged off late in the afternoon=20
must be headed home for the day, or a sibling who=20
hasn't been seen online for a few days might be=20
traveling. Instant messaging, users say, makes=20
lives more transparent than other technologies, like e-mail or cellphones.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/03/AR200604...
1691.html
(requires registration)

KIDS & MEDIA

SEXY MEDIA A SIREN CALL TO PROMISCUITY?
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Michael Conlon]
Sexually charged music, magazines, TV and movies=20
push youngsters into intercourse at an earlier=20
age, perhaps by acting as kind of virtual peer=20
that tells them everyone else is doing it, a=20
study said Monday. "This is the first time we've=20
shown that the more kids are exposed to sex in=20
media the earlier they have sex," said Jane Brown=20
of the University of North Carolina, chief author=20
of the report. Previous research had been limited=20
to television, said the study which looked at=20
1,017 adolescents when they were aged 12 to 14=20
and again two years later. They were checked on=20
their exposure during the two years to 264 items=20
-- movies, TV shows, music and magazines -- which=20
were analyzed for their sexual content. In=20
general it found that the highest exposure levels=20
led to more sexual activity, with white teens in=20
the group 2.2 times more likely to have had=20
intercourse at ages 14 to 16 than similar=20
youngsters who had the least exposure. The effect=20
was not as pronounced for blacks, the study said,=20
perhaps because the black youngsters in the study=20
were already more sexually experienced than the=20
whites were when the research began and thus were=20
less influenced by media exposure over the=20
two-year period. The study was published in the=20
April issue of "Pediatrics," the journal of the=20
American Academy of Pediatrics. A portion of the=20
data was previously published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DdomesticNews&storyID=
=3D2006-04-03T160021Z_01_N29389676_RTRUKOC_0_US-SEX.xml&archived=3DFalse

TEACHING KIDS TO DRIVE THE NET
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Stefanie Olsen]
Do children need training wheels for the digital=20
world? For a growing number of educational groups=20
and companies with youth-friendly Internet=20
services, the answer is a resounding "yes." "Kids=20
are the ones who spend more time on the=20
Internet--it's very much an extension of their=20
real world," said Warren Nightingale, a media=20
education specialist at the Media Awareness=20
Network, a children and technology educational=20
nonprofit in Canada. "It's important to get the=20
skills in place so they don't put themselves at=20
risk for unwanted attention or give out personal=20
information." Though children always seem to have=20
a leg up on parents when it comes to adapting to=20
new technology, experts say few of them have been=20
taught the do's and don'ts online. But parents=20
and educators are more concerned than ever with=20
dangers presented by the Internet, given reports=20
of privacy invasions and predators targeting=20
children through chat rooms and blogs. Research=20
shows that 94 percent of kids access the Internet=20
from home. Some of them are already well-versed=20
in using the Internet by the time they're in=20
fourth grade, or 8 years old, according to a=20
study from the Media Awareness Network, which is=20
funded largely through government grants,=20
conducted in Canada. Eight years old is a pivotal=20
age for children developmentally because that's=20
the time they seek out social networks and start=20
to get a sense of who they are, Nightingale said.
http://news.com.com/Teaching+kids+to+drive+the+Net/2009-1041_3-6057231.h...
?tag=3Dnefd.lede

WEB ADS APPEAR ON RACY SITES DESPITE CHECKS
[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Julia Angwin julia.angwin( at )wsj.com ]
Most big companies have strict rules to prevent=20
their ads from appearing alongside sexual,=20
political, illegal or hateful material on=20
television and in newspapers and magazines. But=20
these days, the free-wheeling content on the=20
Internet is sorely testing those restrictions=20
because of the way many ads for small sites are=20
sold through middlemen that don't always=20
carefully monitor where the ads are posted.=20
Companies and their ad agencies over the years=20
have developed ways to monitor their print and TV=20
ads. For TV, advertisers have lists of shows they=20
won't buy into -- often those with controversial=20
content. In both print and TV, marketers buy ads=20
on condition their spots don't run adjacent to=20
certain content -- such as news of a tragedy.=20
Advertising on the Internet isn't as clear-cut.=20
Marketers typically place ads directly with=20
Google, Time Warners AOL, Microsoft's MSN and=20
Yahoo. But for tens of thousands of smaller Web=20
sites that accept ads, companies or their ad=20
agencies turn to online advertising networks.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB114411164282216016.html?mod=3Dtodays_us_...
ketplace
(requires subscription)

QUICKLY

NAB DEBATE TRACKER UP AND RUNNING
[SOURCE: National Association of Broadcasters]
The National Association of Broadcasters is=20
urging member stations to report to the lobbying=20
organization on efforts to give air time to=20
political candidates. Why? "As the election=20
season heats up, activist groups can be expected=20
to renew their unfounded criticism that=20
broadcasters fail" to do so. The NAB will=20
tabulate the data and include in NAB's "Free Air=20
Times" publication. The link below is the online=20
form stations use to report offers of free air time.
http://www.nab.org/publicservice/electionslog.asp

ASSETS OF FOUNDATIONS SPRINT PAST MILESTONE, BUT LOWER PAYOUT IS FORESEEN
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Stephaine Strom]
Foundation assets climbed above $500 billion for=20
the first time last year, according to estimates=20
issued yesterday by the Foundation Center.=20
Nonetheless,while 59 percent of foundations=20
responding to the center's annual survey said=20
they would increase their giving this year, 30=20
percent said they intended to cut it. The=20
Foundation Center, a research and educational=20
group that tracks grants, expects total giving by=20
foundations to fall this year as concerns about=20
the national deficit, higher oil prices,=20
volatility in the stock market and the war in=20
Iraq weigh on the minds of foundation managers.=20
Inflation is also playing a role, eroding assets=20
and the value of foundation giving; assets have=20
not grown since 2000, after adjustment for=20
inflation. Similarly, while giving among=20
foundations reached an estimated record level of=20
$33.6 billion last year, in inflation-adjusted=20
terms that was slightly less than the peak amount=20
reported in 2001. The nation's independent and=20
family foundations, which together are generally=20
known as private foundations, number more than=20
67,000 and continue to account for a vast=20
majority of foundation giving. But the rate of=20
growth among private foundations last year was=20
the lowest since 1990, and giving by newer types is increasing rapidly.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/04/us/04foundation.html
(requires registration)
* Justice O'Connor to Join Rockefeller Foundation Board
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/04/washington/04oconnor.html

3 VERIZON CARIBBEAN UNITS SOLD TO MEXICAN MAGNATE
[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: Elisabeth Malkin]
Verizon announced Monday that it was selling its=20
interests in phone companies in Venezuela, Puerto=20
Rico and the Dominican Republic for $3.7 billion,=20
saying they no longer fit in with its business=20
focus. All three transactions involved Am=E9rica=20
M=F3vil, a large cellular telephone service=20
provider controlled by the Mexican=20
multibillionaire Carlos Slim Hel=FA that has grown=20
steadily across Latin America as global=20
telecommunications companies withdrew from some=20
national markets. Verizon's move fits in with a=20
broader shift by phone companies in the United=20
States, which are concentrating on their domestic=20
wireless and Internet businesses. Companies=20
including BellSouth, AT&T and the Vodafone Group=20
have left Latin America in recent years, either=20
because their business strategies there failed or=20
because they were struggling at home. Analysts=20
say Am=E9rica M=F3vil, which reported revenue of $17=20
billion last year, has achieved much of its=20
success through its ability to sell cellphones to=20
Latin America's fast-growing working class.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/04/business/worldbusiness/04verizon.html
(requires registration)

BLOGGING AND EDUCATION
[SOURCE: Washington Post]
Blogs can offer teachers and students=20
unprecedented ways to reach new audiences, foster=20
broader discussions and allow both sides to learn from each other.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/03/AR200604...
1349.html
(requires registration)
* Blogs Sidestep Classroom Constraints
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/03/AR200604...
1348.html
* N.J. Teacher Makes Blogs A Staple at High School
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/03/AR200604...
1350.html
* Blackboard Blogging
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/03/AR200604...
1351.html

FREE 411 CALLS IF YOU'LL LISTEN TO ADS
[SOURCE: USAToday, AUTHOR: Paul Davidson]
A new crop of 800 services is offering free=20
directory assistance. The catch: You first have=20
to listen to a commercial for up to 15 seconds.=20
The newest of the three entrants, 1-800-411-SAVE,=20
is launching nationwide today after trials in=20
Chicago and San Francisco. The others,=20
1-800-FREE-411 and 1-800-411-METRO, rolled out=20
last fall. Typical landline directory-assistance=20
from the big phone companies costs $1.25 a call,=20
but out-of-region listings are often $1.99 and=20
can range as high as $3.49, says Kathleen Pierz=20
of the Pierz Group, a research company. A=20
wireless 411 call generally costs $1.50.
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/money/20060404/1b_free411_04.art.htm

NTL SEALS $1.7 BILLION DEAL FOR VIRGIN MOBILE
[SOURCE: Financial Times, AUTHOR: Mark Odell,=20
Emiko Terazono and Helen Thomas]
Virgin Mobile, the UK-based mobile phone operator=20
controlled by Sir Richard Branson=92s Virgin Group,=20
on Tuesday accepted cable group NTL=92s takeover=20
offer valued at $1.7 billion. The deal creates=20
the UK=92s first media company to offer =93quadruple=20
play=94, comprising television, broadband and=20
fixed-line and mobile phone services.
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/226b9780-c3a6-11da-9ad1-0000779e2340.html
(requires subscription)

TERMINATE PUBLIC BROADCASTING
[SOURCE: Accuracy in Media, AUTHOR: Cliff Kincaid]
[Commentary] The public broadcasting=20
establishment is in a state of apoplexy over the=20
fact that the Bush Administration has proposed a=20
modest cut in federal funding of public TV and=20
radio. But the Republican Study Committee has=20
gone further, advocating the complete de-funding=20
of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).=20
This is the position advocated by AIM.
http://www.aim.org/media_monitor/4461_0_2_0_C/

VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES OFTEN NOT PROPERLY LABELED
[SOURCE: Reuters]
Most video games rated "M" for mature audiences=20
fail to disclose violent content on their labels=20
and can easily fall into the hands of children,=20
according to a study released on Monday.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=3DtechnologyNews&sto...
D=3D2006-04-03T201556Z_01_N31367734_RTRUKOC_0_US-VIDEOS.xml
* Judge nixes Michigan law aimed at 'violent' games
A federal judge has overturned a Michigan law=20
restricting the sale of violent video games, the=20
most recent in a series of decisions that have=20
gutted similar laws on free-speech grounds.
http://news.com.com/Judge+nixes+Michigan+law+aimed+at+violent+games/2100...
43_3-6057287.html?tag=3Dhtml.alert

NAB OPPOSES SIDELINE CAMERA BAN
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
National Association of Broadcasters President=20
David Rehr has called on the NFL to reverse its=20
decision to ban local TV station cameras from the=20
sidelines of NFL games, calling it "wrongheaded,"=20
and showing an "appalling lack of appreciation," for broadcasters.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6321587?display=3DBreaking+News
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Communications-related Headlines is a free online=20
news summary service provided by the Benton=20
Foundation (www.benton.org). Posted Monday=20
through Friday, this service provides updates on=20
important industry developments, policy issues,=20
and other related news events. While the=20
summaries are factually accurate, their often=20
informal tone does not always represent the tone=20
of the original articles. Headlines are compiled=20
by Kevin Taglang headlines( at )benton.org -- we welcome your comments.
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